HOUSTON — The Yankees have their first injury scare of the season.
Giancarlo Stanton was forced to leave Friday’s game early after gingerly running from second to third on a single off the left-field wall in the sixth inning at Daikin Park.
The veteran designated hitter, who has a history of lower-body, soft-tissue injuries, stopped and started between second and third to make sure J.C. Escarra’s lined shot was not caught, but then lightly trotted to third and made no attempt to score despite the ball getting away from left fielder Dustin Harris.
Aaron Boone and a trainer jogged out to check on Stanton and after a quick conversation, he walked off the field and was replaced by pinch runner Randal Grichuk.
The Yankees are the last team left to not place a player on the injured list during the regular season, though it remains to be seen whether this will change that run of good health.
